Having fun in Guangzhou...

This morning after breakfast we headed straight for Starbucks again, gotta have a good cup of coffee! They have soft comfy chairs and couches inside and out. You feel like you're in some kind of resort as you sit on the veranda and look at palm trees and a park across the walk with the locals playing hacky sac and doing their stretching and excercises. We walked around in and out of a few shops. Emma is so routine that if someone does something once, that's their assigned task from now on. Ellie's in charge of putting on and taking off her shoes. Daddy gives her water. Mommy holds her or pushes the stroller. No one better touch the stroller or she begins a tantrum. As we bond and get on our on turf we will begin to teach and train her. For now, since her world has been turned upside down with so many new experiences in only 8-9 days (car rides, 2 different hotels, new languange, new food, new family...) she needs as much routine as possible to feel secure. So we are going with the flow. The local shop keepers try to help and I have to tell them, she will scream if you touch her stroller or throw her dropped cherios in the trash. They immediately back off. I think they're used to the tempermental newly adopted children. After adopting from China, all Americans must spend their 2nd week in Guangzhou before returning home. The deal with her food and sippy cup is... she must hold them at all times (even while going neow neow). They must be immediately replenished when empty. If her cherios or goldfish fall on the floor, you must be an excellent illusionist and pretend to put them back in her cup and not in the trash.
After shopping we headed for the playground outside. Everything is within 5-10 minutes walking distance on this island. The playground was awesome. The weather was georgeous. We stayed there about an hour and a half. Then back to Lucy's for lunch. After lunch we strolled along the Yangzee river right across from Lucy's. Then we met Jophy back at the hotel but decided Emma was too tired for the zoo so she offered to take Ellie. We were nervous about Emma getting upset if Ellie left, but we distracted her and she seems ok as long as she doesn't see you leave. She asked for her a few times but we said, "right back" and quickly distracted her with something else. Keith, me and Emma played ball and hung out in the room. When she dosed off and Ellie got back, Keith got in a quick workout. We ordered pizza again and are gonna watch movies tonight. We got some dvd's for $2.00 each at Susan's.
Dawn and Tom, could you email me privately so I know you got this message... Our flight arrives at 5am Wed. morning. Could you be at the airport at around 6am with your car and ours as we discussed? Don't forget the 2 carseats, but do forget the pack and play Natalie was gonna loan us... she will not get in a crib, but may sleep on a pallet in our room if she won't sleep in hers with Ellie at first. Miss you and see you in a few days. Gotta go my pizza's getting cold.